Japanese “no vacancy” button
Unicode: 1F235
Description
A Japanese 'service' (サービス) button, depicted as a red square with the kanji characters for 'service' in white.
Group:
Symbols > alphanum
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Neutral, informative. Used to indicate a service or discount.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010). It is one of several Japanese 'katakana/kanji' buttons designed to represent common signs and phrases found in Japan, catering to Japanese digital communication needs.
Usage Examples
- Indicating a complimentary service: 'We offer free Wi-Fi! サービス'
- Labeling a service counter: 'Service desk here サービス'
- Referring to a special offer or discount: 'Today's special: buy one get one free! サービス'
- As a label in a list of services: 'Available services: サービス, Wi-Fi, Parking.'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Less commonly understood without context, as it's a specific Japanese character. Might be interpreted as a generic 'button' or 'sign' if not familiar with Japanese Kanji.
East Asian culture:
Widely recognized in Japan as indicating 'service,' 'free service,' or a 'discount' (サービス often refers to complimentary service from a business or a special offer).
Other cultures:
May not be recognized or understood, leading to confusion.